wintersynth writes: My friend is sending his 12-year-old to a tech summer camp and wants to know the best language for him to learn. It looks like Java and Python are the main options, both applied to game programming. There are also classes using the Lego Mindstorm scripting language, and Scratch. Slashdotters, I assume you've run into this question before, and I could use the help. Programming tools have changed a lot since I was learning SmartBASIC on a Coleco Adam as a kid. I want to recommend something that will be powerful enough to show him the unlimited possibilities in programming, but easy enough to maintain his interest and not discourage him. What do you teach your kids? What has been effective?

Hahahahh, I did that already, and was hoping for a more nuanced answer from Slashdot than the medley of unattributed opinions I found. People were still suggesting C++. That site is the apex of hilarious condescension though.

I'd go with Python, personally. It's modern design and robustness coupled with ease of implementation will be good to teach the basics. Unlike compiled languages, development doesn't need a special environment and finessing a compiler.